How to heat a house: pellets, coal or briquettes - 2026 comparison
Choosing a fuel starts not with the price per tonne but with the boiler you already have or plan to install. Next comes how much attention you are prepared to give your heating every day. Only then should you look at the price per kilowatt-hour of heat, not per bag.
Boiler first, fuel second
The three types of solid fuel need different boilers, and that is the main constraint. Pellets burn only in a pellet boiler or in a burner with a hopper and an auger: you fill it once every few days and the automation does the rest. Coal and briquettes are fuel for a conventional hand-fed solid fuel boiler, a stove, a masonry heater or a fireplace. If a boiler is already installed, half the choice is made: a pellet boiler means pellets, a conventional one means coal or briquettes. If you are still choosing a boiler, decide by how much time you are willing to spend: a pellet boiler costs more, but it does not need loading every day.
There is also a middle option: a pellet burner fitted to a conventional solid fuel boiler. Then you can burn pellets from the hopper, or remove the burner and hand-feed coal or briquettes.
How much heat a kilogram gives
Fuels should be compared by heat, not by weight or volume. Below are typical net calorific values for dry fuel; the figures in the certificate for a specific batch may differ.
| Fuel | kcal/kg | kWh/kg | Ash content | Boiler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthracite | 7,000-8,000 | 8-9 | 10-15% | with good draught or forced draught |
| Long-flame coal DG (ДГ) | 5,500-6,500 | 6.5-7.5 | 10-20% | any, stove, pot-belly stove |
| Wood pellets | 4,000-4,300 | 4.7-5 | 0.5-1.2% | pellet boiler, burner with auger |
| Agro pellets (sunflower husk) | 3,800-4,100 | 4.4-4.8 | 3-5% | pellet boiler with mechanical ash removal |
| Wood briquettes RUF, Pini-Kay, Nestro | 4,000-4,400 | 4.5-5.2 | 0.5-1.5% | any hand-fed boiler, fireplace |
| Peat briquettes | 3,000-3,900 | 3.5-4.5 | 8-15% | any hand-fed boiler, stove |
| Dry firewood (20% moisture) | 2,800-3,200 | 3.3-3.8 | 1-2% | any hand-fed boiler |
The table shows that anthracite gives almost twice as much heat per kilogram as pellets or briquettes, and three times as much as dry firewood. But that does not make it twice as cost-effective: a tonne of anthracite also costs more, and it needs a more demanding boiler.
Price per kilowatt-hour, not per tonne: an honest 2026 calculation
The only way to compare fuels on cost is to work out what one kilowatt-hour of useful heat costs: divide the price per tonne by the calorific value of a tonne in kilowatt-hours and by the boiler efficiency. At September 2026 retail prices (Kyiv and Kyiv region, delivered) and current tariffs, the picture looks like this:
| Fuel | Indicative price | UAH per useful kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Mains gas for households | 7.96 UAH/m³ | ≈ 0.95 |
| State firewood (the eFirewood programme, "ДроваЄ") | ≈ 1,250 UAH/m³ | ≈ 1.1 |
| Long-flame coal DG | 9,000-11,000 UAH/t | 1.65-2.0 |
| Pellets at wholesale price (pallet in summer, big bag) | 8,000-13,000 UAH/t | 1.85-3.0 |
| Anthracite | 13,500-18,000 UAH/t | 2.0-2.65 |
| RUF briquettes | 9,000-12,000 UAH/t | 2.4-3.2 |
| Electric heating, reduced tariff | 2.64 UAH/kWh (up to 2,000 kWh/month) | 2.64 |
| Peat briquettes | 7,000-12,000 UAH/t | 2.25-3.85 |
| Retail pellets in autumn | 17,000-21,000 UAH/t | 3.9-4.9 |
| Electric heating, standard tariff | 4.32 UAH/kWh | 4.32 |
We do not claim that "solid fuel is cheaper than gas", because in 2026 that is not true: gas at the household tariff is cheaper than any solid fuel bought at retail. The reduced electricity tariff within its limit is also cheaper than retail pellets and briquettes. Solid fuel wins in three cases: when there is no gas or a connection would cost hundreds of thousands; when the house is large and exceeds the 2,000 kWh per month limit (electricity then costs 4.32 UAH); and when you buy coal or pellets out of season and not at retail, at 1.7-2.7 UAH per kilowatt-hour rather than 4-5. A detailed calculation with the formula and efficiency figures is in the article "Calorific value of fuels"; current Thermera prices are in the catalogue.
Two correction factors are often forgotten. First, efficiency: a pellet boiler runs at 88-92%, a conventional solid fuel boiler on coal at 75-85%, an old stove at 50-60%. Second, delivery: bulk loads and pallets delivered to your gate may cost more than self-pickup in bags, but they save time and fuel for the car.
Convenience: how much attention each fuel needs
Pellets are the least hassle. A 200-300 kg hopper lasts 3-7 days depending on the frost, the ash is emptied once a week or less, and the boiler holds the temperature by itself. The downsides: the cost of the boiler, the need for a dry room for the bags, and dependence on electricity (the auger and the fan).
Coal means loading every 8-12 hours for anthracite and more often for long-flame coal, ash every day, dust when carrying bags, and a need for a good chimney. On the other hand, it does not depend on electricity and gives the most heat from a single load.
Briquettes are like firewood, only more compact and drier: loading every 2-4 hours in active mode, up to 8-10 hours when smouldering. No splitting or drying needed, little ash, clean hands. The downside is that they are sensitive to moisture.
Peat briquettes are for those who need cheap overnight heat in a stove or a simple boiler. They light easily and smoulder for a long time, but they leave more ash and will not heat a house quickly.
What to choose: short answers
| Situation | What to buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New house, you want automation | Pellet boiler + wood pellets | Minimum attention, clean, stable temperature |
| Conventional boiler with a forced-draught fan | Anthracite AO or AM | Most heat per load, infrequent refuelling |
| Simple boiler without forced draught, stove, masonry heater | Long-flame coal DG, briquettes, peat briquettes | Burn on natural draught, easy to light |
| Fireplace, sauna stove | Pini-Kay or hardwood RUF briquettes | Even flame without sparks, little ash |
| Commercial boiler house, greenhouse | Agro pellets, anthracite or DG in bulk | Lowest price per tonne, mechanised feed |
| Cheap overnight heat in a stove | Peat briquettes | Cheapest tonne, long smouldering |
What not to do
Do not burn anthracite in a stove or fireplace: without strong draught it smoulders and produces carbon monoxide. Do not pour pellets onto the grate of a conventional boiler: they will burn out in an hour to no effect. Do not buy fuel by the price per bag without converting it to a price per tonne: a bag may hold 15, 25 or 40 kg. And do not buy a whole season's supply of a fuel you have never burned: start with a trial bag to see how your particular boiler handles it.
Once you have chosen the type of fuel, the next step is the class or grade: for pellets that means ENplus A1 or A2, for coal AO, AM, AS or DG, for briquettes RUF, Pini-Kay or Nestro. The next articles in our buyer's guide cover these.
Questions and answers
What is cheaper in 2026: gas or solid fuel?
Gas at the household tariff (7.96 UAH/m³) gives a useful kilowatt-hour for about 0.95 UAH, which is cheaper than any solid fuel bought at retail. Solid fuel wins when there is no gas or a connection would cost hundreds of thousands, when the house is large and exceeds the reduced electricity tariff limit, or when coal or pellets are bought out of season and not at retail: then a kilowatt-hour costs 1.7-2.7 UAH.
Which is more cost-effective: heating with electricity or with pellets?
At the reduced tariff of 2.64 UAH/kWh (up to 2,000 kWh per month), electricity is cheaper than retail autumn pellets, which give heat at 3.9-4.9 UAH/kWh. If you exceed the limit and pay the standard tariff of 4.32 UAH, pellets at wholesale price (a pallet in summer, a big bag) are more cost-effective: 1.85-3.0 UAH/kWh. So it all depends on the size of the house and on when you buy your pellets.
Can I burn pellets in a conventional solid fuel boiler?
You cannot simply pour pellets onto the grate: they will burn out in about an hour to no effect. You need a pellet burner with a hopper and an auger fitted to the conventional solid fuel boiler. Then you can burn pellets from the hopper, or remove the burner and hand-feed coal or briquettes.
Why is anthracite not twice as cost-effective as pellets if it gives twice the heat?
A kilogram of anthracite gives 8-9 kWh against 4.7-5 kWh for wood pellets, but a tonne of anthracite also costs more: 13,500-18,000 UAH. As a result, a useful kilowatt-hour from anthracite costs 2.0-2.65 UAH, which is comparable to pellets at wholesale price. Anthracite also needs a boiler with good draught or forced draught. The detailed calculation is in the article on the calorific value of fuels.
How often do I need to refuel the boiler?
A 200-300 kg pellet hopper lasts 3-7 days depending on the frost. A load of anthracite burns for 8-12 hours; long-flame coal has to be topped up more often. Briquettes need loading every 2-4 hours in active mode and up to every 8-10 hours when smouldering.
What is the best fuel for a stove or fireplace?
Anthracite is not suitable for stoves and fireplaces: without strong draught it smoulders and produces carbon monoxide. For a stove, masonry heater or pot-belly stove, choose long-flame coal DG, briquettes or peat briquettes: they burn on natural draught. For a fireplace, Pini-Kay or hard RUF briquettes are the best choice: an even flame without sparks and little ash.
Buy the fuel covered in this article
Prices per tonne and per bag, stock and delivery across Ukraine are on the category page. For wholesale: special terms.
